2014 – 2017 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
[B’ Spokes: My highlights and comments on Baltimore city projects… you should make your comments as well per the following. The more people that demonstrate that they are watching bicycling issues the better.]
Comments may also be submitted to:
Baltimore Regional Transportation Board
Offices @ McHenry Row
1500 Whetstone Way, Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21230
Fax: 410-732-8248
E-mail: comments@baltometro.org
Twitter: @bmoreinvolved, @PlanIt2035, #BRTBlistens
All comments must be received no later than 3 days after the close of the comment period.
Via https://baltometro.org/plans/2014-2017-tip-plan-it-2035-amendments-and-air-quality-report
Source of the following projects: https://baltometro.org/downloadables/TIP/14-17TIP_BaltimoreCity.pdf
Citywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements
The Citywide Bike/Ped Group incl
udes but is not limited to:
– Baltimore City Bicycle Routes
– A city-wide bicycle network which will
encourage alternative modes of transportation, reduce emissions and
automobile trips.
– Jones Falls Trail
– A recreational and commuting trail which will extend from
Mount Washington to the Inner Harbor. (All phases 474
-788, 474-740)
– Western Run Trail – A pedestrian and bicycle trail connecting to the Jones
Falls Trail. This enhancement pr
oject will create a neighborhood spur
allowin
g many residences to access the Jones Falls Trail, the Mount
Washington Light Rail Station
and commercial district.
– Herring Run Greenway
– A trail adjacent to a stream valley through
northeast Baltimore.
[B’ Spokes: That sounds good.]
Boston Street Realignment and Reconstruction
The project will provide a north-south connection between Boston Street
and O’Donnell Street. The new roadway will also provide a partial
continuation of the existing city grid
system by widening Boston Street
between
Conkling and Eaton Streets. Then turning north, the roadway
would extend parallel to South Haven St
reet, ultimately rising to intersect
O’Donnell Street above Haven Street and the adjacent railroad tracks.
The project will include constructing a portion of Eaton Street from Toone
Street south to the new roadway.
[B’ Spokes: I hope there is some bicycle considerations with this project.]
Edmondson Avenue Bridge over Gwynn Falls and CSX Railroad
Design and construct a complete replacement of the Edmondson Avenue
Bridge over the Gwynn Falls/CSX Railroad. The new bridge will be 23
feet wider to accommodate a dual
-track light rail line as currently
proposed for the MTA Red Line. The new bridge will also incorporate
sidewalks and lighting.
[B’ Spokes: But no bike lane or shoulder???]
Citywide Bridge Preservation and Rehabilitation
Justification: …
* Could serve to improve conditions for bicycling and/or walking per
approved local, regional and/or statewide bicycle and pedestrian planning
documents.
[B’ Spokes: Why don’t the other projects have this note? And why use the word “Could”? “Must have” or at least “Should have” would be much better.
What really bothers me is, this is where the money is allocated for our accommodations but we get such wishy washy wording and when the project moves forward in planning they’ll say “We don’t have enough money to accommodate bikes here.” What they really mean (in too many cases) is the original estimate done here at this phase was not large enough. But there has not been a year yet were MDOT has tens of millions if not hundreds of millions of dollars left over by year end… more than enough to cover the occasional “Whoops we forgot about bikes on this project.” (Though they never would put it in those words.) My crazy idea would be to add a $10 million fund to cover miss-estimates in accommodating cyclists in these projects.]
Citywide System Preservation Resurfacing
City wide resurfacing projects.
[B’ Spokes: The most economical way to accommodate cyclists is with road resurfacing projects, yet no note about doing so. 🙁 Time permitting I’ll do a little photo essay about our roads and how the city is failing to do proper maintenance thus wasting taxpayers dollars on resurfacing projects.]
York Road Reconstruction: 43rd Street to 29th Street
Reconstruction of York Road between 43rd and 29th street, including
milling/repaving, lighting, landscaping, new sidewalks and traffic calming.
[B’ Spokes: I do hope that’s bike friendly traffic calming but then again does Baltimore even know how to do that? Too many speed humps here you have to do 5 mph over instead of the 15 mph as intended. And the worst is when cyclists have to go slower than the cars over the humps/bumps and that’s not right.]
Key Highway and Light Street Roundabout
The intersection of Key Highway and
Light Street has a high crash rate
and is confusing for pedestrians and vehicular traffic. This intersection is
also an important gateway into the Inner Harbor tourist area and South
Baltimore neighborhoods. Reconstruction into a roundabout will improve
pedestrian and traffic safety while making the intersection a greener, more
attractive community gateway
[B’ Spokes: Maybe I am off base here but it sounds to me like they are ascribing one lane roundabout attributes to two lane roundabouts, which do not have much of a reputation for being a “pedestrian improvement” unless “
Traffic signals shall be placed at
crosswalks on all multi-lane approaches
to roundabouts.
”]
Harford Road Bridge Over Herring Run
Bridge has deteriorated beyond repair. A total reconstruction of the bridge
is needed.
[B’ Spokes: It really makes me nervous when they forget to mention something about including bike lanes or shoulders.]
Wilkens Avenue Bridge Over Gwynns Falls
Replacement of bridge, which has
deteriorated beyond repair.
[B’ Spokes: The same as above, no mention of bike lanes or shoulders.]
Belair Road Complete Streets
Planning, design and construction for street, sidewalk, bike improvements
and greening at key intersections on Belair Road, including Erdman Ave.,
Frankford Ave., and Fleetwood. Project is a major implementation item
from the Urban Land Institute Belair Road report and BCDOT traffic study.
[B’ Spokes: See this is what I am talking about. I really have to ask why this kind of wording is not in other projects given state law:
TR § 2-602.(3) As to any new transportation project or improvement to an existing transportation facility, the Department shall work to ensure that transportation options for pedestrians and bicycle riders will be enhanced and that pedestrian and bicycle access to transportation facilities will not be negatively impacted by the project or improvement;]
Waterview Avenue and Hollins
Ferry Road Reconstruction
Resurface and reconstruct portions of Waterview Avenue, Annapolis
Road
and Hollins Ferry Road, as well as geometric improvements as
necessary to improve truck access to small industrial districts in the area.
[B’ Spokes: This is one of the few bike routes out of the city, I do hope they include bicycle improvements.]
[B’ Spokes: This is only some of the projects in Baltimore City, there maybe a project in your area that I did not cover that you may be concerned about please look into it. Additional I will not have time to look into the other counties so please take a look here find your county and comment.
https://baltometro.org/plans/2014-2017-tip-plan-it-2035-amendments-and-air-quality-report]
